By THE WATCHMAN
Posted Sunday, August 28 2011 at 18:38
Posted Sunday, August 28 2011 at 18:38
GO QUIETLY. The most peculiar habit of Kenyans, but especially politicians, is to shamelessly cling onto something they will publicly declare they abhor, says David Tumbula. The best example that readily comes to his mind, he adds, are the Rift Valley politicians coalescing around William Ruto. “They go around shouting that they are no longer in ODM having found a new vehicle, UDM, but will still castigate the leadership of the party that had them elected. If you can’t work with former associates, why not just go away quietly.”
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WHAT? NO PAVEMENTS? A resident of Nairobi’s Tena estate, Joshua Mutunga, is happy that their cry has been heard and some of their dilapidated roads are being rehabilitated. However, Joshua says is disappointed that the pavements have not been fixed in the sections where the roads have been repaired. With some of the buildings literally touching the roads and balconies hanging over them, he wonders whether that is a factor in the failure to pave the sidewalks. “Can Town Clerk Philip Kisia shed some light on this?” urges Joshua, whose contact is joshuamu2001@yahoo.com.
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CARD OWNER STUNNED. The holder of a MasterCard, Liz Amwatta, is stunned that she can’t use it in Nairobi lately. She would like any banking gurus to explain why for nearly two months, she has not been able to withdraw money from an ATM using her card. “I’ve checked with Barclays Bank who say it is an IT problem, but I highly doubt this. My MasterCard issuing bank assures me that my card is operational and they are right, as I was able to withdraw some money during a visit to a neighbouring country. Something is not right!” His contact is lizdark@hotmail.com.
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NOISE POLLUTION. While most people are excited about the impending completion of the Thika superhighway, M. Kenya, a resident of Thome estate, says he and his neighbours are under siege from deafening noise pollution. The culprits, Kenya adds, are the numerous nightclubs that have conveniently positioned themselves along the highway. “We have to contend with sleepless nights due to the extremely loud music played by the clubs and the filthy water they discharge into the roadsides,” says Kenya.
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TAME MOTORISTS. Just the other day, in Machakos, more than 20 Kenyans perished in a road accident, which according to the police and eyewitness accounts could never have happened had safety precautions been taken. For his part, Nicholas Ireri is particularly saddened that more than 2,000 lives have been lost in accidents in the past eight months. He misses the days in 2003, when John Michuki, restored order in the rogue matatu industry. He wishes road carnage could be a key factor in next year’s elections.
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VENDORS A MENACE. Every time he passes by shopping centres at Dagoretti, Kikuyu and Gachie, John Mungai is alarmed at the conduct of roadside vendors who remind him of only one thing – accidents waiting to happen. John got even more alarmed on reading about a car that slammed into a roadside kiosk, killing a woman and two schoolchildren. At Dagoretti, the traders have so encroached on the road that there is always a traffic jam. “Now, some of them have fire in their jikos. I shudder to imagine what could happen. Where are our leaders?” asks John.
Have a safer day, won’t you!
E-mail: watchman@nation.co.ke or write to Watchman, POB 49010, Nairobi 00100. Fax 2213946.
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